What is Mental Health?
Mental Health includes our emotional, psychological, and emotional health. It is a state of well-being that affects how people think, feel and react. It enables them to deal with life’s difficulties, recognize their potential, grow and perform effectively at work, and give back to their community. Lacking mental health affects physical health, relationships, and daily living.
WHO states that mental health is “more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities.”
Early Determinants of Mental Health
There are a number of reasons which can impair mental health. It could be individual psychological and biological factors like emotional skills, genetics, the substance used, etc. Exposure to unfavorable circumstances like poverty, violence, and inequality is also a reason for people to experience mental health conditions.
Here are some early signs that a person is living with Mental Health problems:
Distancing from people, social gatherings, and other activities
Possessing low or no energy
Eating excessively, little or a lot
Deprived of sleeping or sleeping excess
Being dejected
Expressing unfavorable feelings
Smoking, drinking or using drugs more than usual
Causing physical harm to themselves or others
Experiencing severe mood swings
Betray negative emotions
Feeling numb or confused
World Mental Health Day
In 1992, the deputy secretary-general of the World Federation of Mental Health, Richard Hunter, established World Mental Health Day. Every year on October 10, the World Health Organization recognizes World Mental Health Day. The main goals of World Mental Health Day are to raise support for mental health and increase awareness of global mental health challenges. The talk included topics such as women, children, health, employment, trauma, suicide, and a great deal more. The theme of 2022’s World Mental Health Day, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority.’
How to Improve Mental Health?
Practice Meditation & Yoga
This is a powerful combination that expands the limits of your mind by taking oxygen to it. It not even improves your overall health but also has an instant calming effect besides boosting willpower. It helps to increase self-awareness and build skills to manage stress.
Avoid overthinking
Overthinking creates a loop of negativity and causes stress which disturbs your mental health. You enjoy life more when you stop overthinking. Move on from the past and be hopeful about the future by being present in the moment.
Be Contented
Contentment promotes mental calm and optimism, which can encourage development and self-improvement. Don’t stress your mind for the desires. Enjoy what you have and work hard to achieve your desires.
Get involved in Selfless Service
Being selfless helps us find our identity and connection with others. Helping others also gives satisfaction and calmness to our minds. Begin by looking around you. Make efforts to end the suffering of people and try uplifting humanity. Alleviating others’ pain helps you cultivate gratitude as well.
Surround yourself with good people
Make sure to surround yourself with supportive family members or friends that tell you your shortcomings honestly and motivate you for good deeds.
Take care of your body
According to a proverb, “A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and a healthy mind is the most important tool you can have.” Do volunteer your time and energy to help others but never forget to take care of your body. Take good care of your body by exercising, eating nutritious meals, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep.
Avoid Alcohol & Drugs
Consuming alcohol or any intoxication causes many diseases and reduces life span. Quitting intoxication boosts your overall well-being and helps you to cultivate self-awareness. You get to understand yourself and to connect to the world around you with confidence, dignity, and respect.
Get close to Nature
Nature is the best healer. Indulge yourself in nature by gardening, planting trees, and taking care of them. It gives you self-satisfaction thus improving mood and reducing feelings of stress and anger.
